New Addictions Clinic Set To Open In Woodstock

Friday, 26 July 2019 at 09:12

A new program inside the Oxford County Community Health Centre will look to help those with opioid or alcohol addiction.

WOODSTOCK - A rapid access to addictions clinic, also known as RAAM, will be a new program inside of the Oxford County Community Health Centre.

The program will look to help those with opioid or alcohol addiction.

Nurse Practitioner Sonya Scholarchos says their goal is to help those battling addictions and improve their quality of life.

"It depends on what that client may be presenting with. If they're presenting with an opioid use disorder then suboxone would be our treatment of choice. We also will be treating alcohol use disorder and our go-to is naltrexone, so there is medication that will be available for alcohol-use as well."

She adds suboxone offers less risk of an overdose, fewer interactions with drugs and it's accessible through prescription. She says clients can go to their local pharmacy and pick it up.

In addition to treatment, Scholarchos says the facility will have a variety of services available.

"I believe it was decided that we could offer more than just the pharmaceutical therapy or the therapy that we would use to treat somebody with a substance use disorder. We're a one-stop shop. So we've got counselling services and outreach, housing services and lots of other services that kind of wrap around those clients that can provide support."

The RAAM clinic is offered in other cities across the province.

Scholarchos adds the clinic is currently in a soft launch with their clients and it is expected to open in September. They will have a mixture of drop-in hours and scheduled appointments and she adds that once things are established in Woodstock, there are plans to expand it to Tillsonburg and Ingersoll in the future.

If anyone has more questions regarding the RAAM clinic or is interested in getting more information, you may contact Scholarchos at 519-539-1111 ext. 223.